"First, we drive everyone to despair, then we eat all the cookies"

Erika Janik

Christmas isn't Christmas without knepkaker, a delicious brown cookie so important to Norwegians that they came to play an important part in the 1940 Norwegian film Tante Pose (Auntie Bag).

The movie tells the classic house guest from hell story, in this case Auntie Bag. In response to her outrages, the Bals family daughters, encouraged by their grandfather, the Colonel, refuse to treat Auntie Bag with the respect she feels she deserves. Auntie Bag, in a fit of rage, goes on a hunger strike that threatens to wreck the holidays. But it turns out that Auntie Bag wasn't quite as starving as she claimed...



A recipe for the beloved brown cookies appears about 3 and a half minutes in.  Christmas cookies really can make or break the holidays it seems.

Christmas Cookies and Holiday Baking

On Friday's show, Lori Skelton will be talking to Tom LaPierre, pastry and baking instructor at the Milwaukee Area Technical College, about favorite holiday baking recipes. LaPierre is an expert on pastry,  and is particularly passionate about French baking, pulled sugar, chocolate, and gum pastillage (that's pronounced PAHS-tee-AHJ and is a sugar-based dough used to make elaborate, edible decorations). He even did some of his training at what has to be the most delicious-sounding (and perhaps home to the most hyper students) school of all, the International School of Sugar and Confectionary Art near Atlanta.

The holidays are a great time for baking and with just one week left before Christmas, holiday baking is about to kick into full swing. Do you have a great cookie recipe? A favorite family baking story? Or other great holiday treats to share? LaPierre will share some of his favorites but we hope you'll share some of yours, too.

Hunting as Rite of Passage

Dominique Haller

On today's show, we'll be talking to Randall Eaton, an expert on the ethics of hunting. In his latest book From Boys to Men of Heart: Hunting as Rite of Passage, he describes hunting as a transformative experience for young people. According to him, it helps to instill good character, values and virtues. While hunting, young people can learn life skills they will need in marriage, parenting and providing.

What do you think about hunting as a transformative experience? Do you agree that hunting can offer important life lessons? Or do you have qualms about hunting in general? Is there a gender difference in the experience of hunting? Are you a woman who hunts? And how is your experience different from that of a man who hunts?

Jean's Pick of the Week for Dec. 11, 2009

Jean's pick this week is Christmas Eve Seven Fish Feast From Sicily. Our technical director, Joe, is horrified at the idea of having octopus for Christmas. For me, fish is a must-have "lucky" dish to celebrate the coming of a new year, because in Chinese, the pronounciation of "fish" (yu) is identical to that of "extra." On the Chinese New Year Eve, every family will have a fish dish on the table.

Do you have a Christmas food ritual? On what special occasions do you eat fish? Leave your story on our hotline and we may use it on air for the Mail Bag segment of the show. Our hotline number is 877-GLOBE-07 (877-45623-07) or 608-890-0269.

The Power of Ritual - 12/10

Dominique Haller

On today's show, we'll talk to cultural anthropologist Dr. Bradd Shore about the power of rituals. Dr. Shore is director of the Emory Center for Myth and Ritual in American Life (MARIAL) and currently focuses his research on the little things that we do every day without even noticing - our own rituals.

Do you have any rituals that are important to you? Do you create rituals for special occasions? Or do you see yourself as an entirely rational being that doesn't need such a thing as rituals?

The Perfect Program For A Blizzard - 12/9

Joe Hardtke

So we're airing an encore program today and I'll take you outside the studios to explain why in this behind-the-scenes video.



Put down the shovel and download the show right now from our Here on Earth archive.

Stay warm, world!

Jean's Pick of the Week for December 4th

Joe Hardtke

Jean's pick this week features a long-time "dream guest" for our show, someone we've been looking forward to talking to for some time now.

Check out the video, then download the show from the Here on Earth archive.



Enjoy this stimulating conversation. We did!